Active Adventure tours in the Americas

This American dream comes with fresh air, adrenaline, and a not-so-subtle Latino twist.

Whether it’s the depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the heights of the Peruvian Andes or the the coastal jungles of Costa Rica, Latin America is a place for adventurers with an imagination. We don’t just photograph the waterfalls, we raft down them. We don’t simply wave hola to the locals, we go canyoneering and rappelling with them. Volcanoes are for downhill mountain biking, ruins are synonymous with hiking, and wildlife-rich islands are an excuse to swim, snorkel and kayak (much as we love a little birdwatching from the boat). The Americas wait for no one, least of all the uninspired. Come and dream wild.

10 Days From
R16,056

Why choose Intrepid

Adventure is in our genes

We’ve been running our active adventures for over a decade, which means we know the best local suppliers and experts on the ground to give you an exciting and safe experience.

Experienced Leaders

Don’t know what a carabiner is? No problems! Our experienced local leaders and adventure enthusiasts can help show you the ropes while also showing you the sights.

Safety First

Whether it’s an included activity or an optional extra, we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy.

Learn New Skills

Discovering a new destination also means unlocking new skills, like horse riding, canyoneering or mountain biking. Our Active Adventures are uniquely designed to teach you something new (and make you an enthusiast too.)

Local Matters

We have close relationships with the communities we visit and always use local adventure providers on each of our trips. By choosing to travel with us, you also empower local communities.

Responsible Travel

We’re not going to ramble through the jungle in a 4x4 vehicle and we won’t ask you to ride an elephant. That’s just not us. We make sure our itineraries are designed in an environmentally friendly way.

Highlights of the Americas

Go canyoning in the wilds of Costa Rica

The jungles of Costa Rica were made for outdoor adventure, and the list of thrills extends far beyond Monteverde cloud forest and turtle-filled Tortuguero. Head for the hills around Uvita for an unforgettable canyoneering experience in the safe hands of expert local guides. It’s just a short hike to your first rappel, which descends a dry rock face and canyon, followed by a rappel down a free fall from the cable to a tranquil pond. Then see the gorges from a different angle, with some rafting down the world-class rapids of Rio Naranjo.

Raft the rapids of the Colorado River, USA

Move over, Arizona. Tackle the Cataract Canyon in a unique, motorised whitewater boat, twisting and turning with the river as it meanders through the canyon walls. You’ll experience the full gamut of river-rafting from flat water through to Class V rapids, pulling over to the sandy banks throughout the day to hike to waterfalls and bluffs and see this ancient canyon from a different perspective. Camp by the river in the evening and enjoy a chef-made meal, then fall asleep under the stars to the sounds of the flowing water.

Hike to the great lost Inca city of Machu Picchu

Challenging, breathtaking, and brimming with pre-Columbian treasure, the Inca Trail is the mother – nay, Pachamama – of all hikes in Peru. But there’s more than one way to get to Machu Picchu. Purists can tackle the Classic Inca Trail through Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata; or join local horsemen in Rafq’a for the less iconic but more off-track Quarry Trail – a quieter and more immersive route that’s rich in local experiences. Both paths lead to Machu Picchu, that icon of the Inca civilisation which, quite frankly, we’ve run out of superlatives for.

Kayak across Tortuga Bay in the Galapagos Islands

Any beach The Guardian rates in the world’s top 50 is going to be worth its salt (and well worth a 3.5-kilometre (2-mile) walk across Isla Santa Cruz). But the eye-catching seabirds of the Galapagos are best seen from the water, not the shore. Jump aboard a kayak at Tortuga Bay beach for a memorable hour or so of paddling and twitching around the bay, where eagle rays, pelicans and blue-footed boobies are found. Sea turtles, reef sharks and marine iguanas also vie for your attention, so keep it steady!

Judith Culp

Kathryn Sauro

Everyone who enjoys nature, wildlife and adventure should get to the Galapagos NOW! This is truly a trip you won't want to miss. You don't have to be in tip-top shape to visit these islands. Be sure to bring a waterproof camera though so that you can take photos on the boats and while snorkeling.

Sabrina Aegerter

I absolutely recommend visiting the Galapagos, this is such a unique and stunning experience! I also recommend booking this trip, because within a few days it covers a lot. You will get to see four different islands, discover many amazing animals while snorkelling, hiking or even only strolling around town, see beautiful landscapes, eat and drink well and learn a lot! Be aware that there are several speed boat transfers and that the sea can be rough sometimes, however, this land-based tour is still a better option for people suffering from seasickness. Also, you may consider booking the trip without the flights from and to Quito if you want to spend more time on the islands (there is not much free-time during the trip, but the activities are definitely worth it!)

Rachel Brady

I thought the travel day from Galapagos to Quito before going on to Lima caused me to lose a day of my trip. Intrepid should have Galapagos travelers go straight to Lima so they have an extra day of holiday instead of a needless day of extra flights.

Alex Hewett

A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a mesmerizing, enchanting trip of a lifetime. If you are lucky enough to have Jessica as your guide, you are guaranteed a truly memorable, holiday of a lifetime. Everyone should visit here at least once. We did not want to leave.

Irene Stewart

Our trip to the Galapagos Islands was one of the best holidays we have ever had. There was so much to do and see from snorkelling with sharks, turtles and sea lions, to walking on an active volcano. We can't thank our guide, Cesar, and our fellow travellers enough for making this the fantastic experience it was.

Michelle Colwell

If you're hesitating about taking an overseas trip because you're not sure whether you will be OK - STOP. Book a trip straight away with Intrepid. You're sure to have a great time, pack heaps into each day, and have the worry of organising things all done for you. Intrepid make it so easy. I have no regrets.

Roslyn Young

Kate Danner

Active Galapagos was an amazing trip filled with many different activities and opportunities to immerse yourself in nature on these beautiful islands. Our tour leader, Johan, was incredibly knowledgeable and did a fantastic job sharing that knowledge throughout our journey together. A few tips: the water can get a little choppy while traveling from island to island, so it's a good idea to pack some anti motion sickness tablets just in case. I would also recommend getting a wetsuit for snorkeling- I traveled there in late July and was very happy that I rented the wetsuit for the week.

Kathleen Barabas

Great holiday - the perfect combo of culture, activity and fun! Opportunity to see and experience different parts of the country (not just where the tourists go), and our leader, Etiel, was outstanding. His passion for his country, adventure, and life in general helped to make the trip a perfect 10. Very active trip.

Sarah Goldberg

Elizabeth Blaufox

If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, Active Galapagos is it! This trip makes it possible to see this unique part of the world from a native's perspective. All of my expectations were not only met, but greatly exceeded. The snorkeling was definitely a highlight, as was our guide, Johan, whose love and passion for the islands is clearly evident and highly contagious. Check this one off your bucket list sooner rather than later!

Kingsley Nwoke

This trip was packed with physical activities within the 10 days, which is perfect if you want to be physically engaged. The views in the country are great. Be prepared to go through a variety of climates, hot and humid to cold and dry. Pack layers so you can easily add or remove them as needed. I was traveling with vegetarians and noticed that in general there seem to be a lot of options in terms of places for vegetarians to eat.

Pamela Harris

This is an active tour, with snorkeling and/or swimming on most days. If you suffer from sea sickness, you'd be wise to have the appropriate medicine in board. Our trip was in Juky and the transfers between islands were rough, especially on our small boat. This is an incredible trip! We saw every animal we hoped to see- and lots of each one! José was a fabulous guide!!

Belinda Pearson

The Galapagos islands are an absolutely amazing experience, the leader for our tour was so knowledgeable and had an enthusiasm that is born from a love of what he is doing, thanks Che Che you made our dream of the Galapagos into an awesome reality.
Belinda and Brett

Barbara baileygoldberg@yahoo.com

This was the most active of the 5 trips I've taken with Intrepid, and the most enjoyable. Etiel's knowledge and enthusiasm makes every activity worthwhile. Pack lightly, but bring layers a long sleeved athletic shirt and 2 other layers for early mornings and evenings and a Camelback bladder/backpack for hiking and biking.

Mike Harwar

High-paced and high-altitude. Will suit those who like being constantly active in stunning surroundings. Early mornings, smelly clothes and not much downtime are characteristics of this trip. Take more technical clothing than you think you will need ie multi-layer, long sleeve tops, warm hat, gloves and socks.

Caren Steward

Megan Grigg

Fantastic tour. Jam packed with lots of activities but 100% worth it. Amazing opportunities to see a plethora of land and sea animals in their natural habitat as well as learn about them. Definitely would recommend the wet suit - the water is cold and you don't want to miss out on the chances to see rays, hammerhead sharks and sea lions because you're frozen!

David Hamdan

Brian Wickstead

Enjoyed the active part of this trip as it suited us.....being able to stay on the islands at night was good in order to mix with local community....get your money out on mainland before departing Quito...as atms not available on some islands